Compare towns
Pepperell vs Windham vs Hanson vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Pepperell | Windham | Hanson | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,663 |
16,038Highest |
10,660 |
9,207Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.8±3 10% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hanson and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$132,200±$10k 64% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$533,900±$36k 60% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,821±$860 29% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,698 115% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,402 105% above U.S. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #153 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #149 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Windham School District | Whitman-Hanson | Douglas |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Whitman Hanson Regional | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
14.7Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.